Police In Michigan On Heightened State Of Alert After Killings In Baton Rouge, Dallas

DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit Police Chief James Craig is telling officers to be in a "heightened state" of alert following the shootings of police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Craig says officers have been told to be extra vigilant and to be aware of their surroundings. Craig issued a similar warning to officers last week after the Dallas shooting in which a sniper killed five officers.

Craig said that the type of threats allegedly made against Detroit officers last week on Facebook, which resulted in four men being arrested, "will not be tolerated." Prosecutors are reviewing warrant requests against the four men for charges of using the internet to threaten.

Despite the rash of extreme violence against police in other states, Michigan State Police say they're seeing an increase in applicants.

"We've been able to hire almost 300 troopers during that process - so we are continuing to add to our ranks and I'm sure that people see more troopers in their communities as we get involved in some of the urban areas - as far as our secure city partnership," said Shaw.

He says hate and violence are not the answer to any problem -- but they do know what they're getting into when they go to work.